Chapter 8 - The Phaeacian Games



Summary!: (Sarah A)

They have an assembly. Alcinous (the king), says that they are going to get a ship ready to take Odysseus home and meanwhile, they are going to have a going away party for Odysseus. The minstrel sings and he is singing about Odysseus and Achilles and that upsets him. Then, they have sports and when Odysseus refuses to participate, Euryalus insults him and tells him he isn't an athlete. So, after that insult, Odysseus throws the discus farther than anyone else and says that he is good at all sports, except running because he has been thrashed around by the sea so much. Then, they go back and feast and Odysseus receives extravagant gifts. They listen to the minstrel some more and the story of the Trojan horse makes him cry. Alcinous stops the song, asks him who he is, and warns him of a prophecy.




Major Themes: (Alex)

Themes:
Pg: 94 end of first beginning of second Paragraph
Pg 95: first Paragraph hospitality
Pg 98: third paragraph Homeric Simile
Pg 99: third Paragraph disguise
Pg 104: second paragraph hospitality and justice
Pgs 107- 108 last and first paragraph Homeric simile




Locations Traveled: (Lea)

  • Odysseus is in Phaeacia (pg. 20)
  • the palace of Alcinous
  • Lemnos is mentioned when talking about Ares
  • Troy is mentioned when talking about sports
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Study Guide Questions:


What is Athene doing at the beginning of the chapter? (Shade)

She's gathering sailors as a crew for Odysseus and later tells them to go to the palace of Alcinous


What story does the bard sing about? (Shade)
He sings about the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles, son of Peleus.


How does Odysseus react to this song? (Jasmine)
He cried.


Why do they gather outside? (Jasmine)
Because odysseus gets challenged to sports.


How does Euryalus insult Odysseus? (Jasmine)

He keeps provoking him to do challenges.


What is Odysseus’s retort? (Jasmine)
He told Euryalus it was a hirrible speech.


What game does Odysseus say he is the best at? (Da Som)
Any spots except running.

What story does the bard tell next? (Da Som)
the love of Ares and Aphrodite of the beautiful diadem, how they first made love secretly in her husband Hephaestus' palace; how Ares gave her many gifts and how he dishonoured the Lord Hephaestus' marriage-bed.



How does Hephaestus trap Ares and Aphrodite? (Da Som)
He went to his workshop, laid his great anvil on the block and forged a network of chains which can't broke, and bind them.

What does Alcinous offer Odysseus as a gift? (Da Som)
fresh cloak, a tunic and a talent of sterling gold, each chiefs and rulers make gift to him.



What does Euryalus give him? (Caroline)
A bronze sword with a silver hilt and an ivory sheath and an apology.



What song does Odysseus Demodocus to sing? (Caroline)
A song about the Wooden Horse of Troy (Trojan Horse).



Why does Alcinous stop the song? (Caroline)
Because every time the song is playing, Odysseus cries, and he wants him to be happy.